Best Alternative to the Panasonic PT-VZ580U Lamp Projector in 2023

When the EU Commission started phasing out the use of mercury in lamps in the European Union in 2021, the writing was on the wall for many popular 5000 lumen projectors sold in classrooms and simulators.  The Panasonic PT-VZ580U has been one of the most popular 5000 lumen lamp projectors sold in the US due to its $1500 price point.   This article will look at the best lamp free projector alternatives that cost about the same as this projector based on throw ratios, brightness, resolution, color accuracy, and cost.   In this article we’ll break down the differences in:

• Lamp vs. Laser vs. 4LED Brightness
• Throw Ratio
• Color Accuracy
• Maintenance & Warranty
• Power Savings
• Cost

The Panasonic PT-VZ580U has a unique throw ratio that is different than most projectors.  It sits between a normal throw ratio and a short throw projector.  This makes it popular for golf simulation, and many types of classrooms.  The three projectors that have the closest throw ratio are the BenQ LU710, LH650, and the Panasonic PT-VMZ51U.  Both the BenQ projectors have excellent color reproduction and are priced close to the lamp powered Panasonic PT-VZ580U.

If you don’t mind the projector being mounted a little further back from the screen, the LH650 makes an excellent 4LED alternative.  There is a lot of overlap between the throw ratios of both projectors so if your Panasonic isn’t at the edge of its zoom, you should be able to reuse your mount location.  

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Panasonic PT-VZ580U is that it needs a lot of maintenance.  First, you’ll need to replace the $350 lamp when it loses brightness or breaks, and you also need to regularly remove, wash, dry, and replace the dust filter on the projector when it gets dirty.  If you don’t the warranty can be voided due to the projector overheating.  The BenQ alternatives all use sealed dustproof laser or LED engines so there is no regular maintenance required.

All the projector alternatives come with a three-year warranty.  But only the Panasonic projectors limits how much you can use the projector – and expires after only 6000 hours of use.  This means that the effective warranty for the laser projector is only a little longer than the rated hours of the lamp projector – despite the $1000 price premium.  The BenQ models don’t have any usage limitations – and the LH730 is rated for 24/7 use.

Because the Panasonic PT-VZ580U uses a high wattage mercury lamp, it consumes 400 watts of power to light up the screen.  The newest 4LED and laser alternatives can reduce the amount of power usage by as much as 50% - saving you money and reducing the impact on climate change.   Here is a chart of the power consumption by model.

The latest 4LED and laser alternatives to the Panasonic PT-VZ580U now cost less.  For example, at $1299, the new 4LED powered BenQ LH730 with a 20,000-hour life and maintenance free design and costs less than the lamp powered Panasonic PT-VZ580U.  The laser powered BenQ LU710 and LH650 has the same throw ratio of the Panasonic PT-VZ580U – and are also in the same price range.  The bottom line is that you don’t need to buy a lamp powered projector anymore just to get an affordable bright and reliable projector. Here is a breakdown of all four alternative models so you can find what is best for your needs.

BenQ has trained staff to help you find the perfect golf simulator projector – within your room size and budget. To help you make the best decision, you can reach out to one of our experts to set up anything from a chat to a complete online demo, to help you find the right projector for your needs.